Buying your first guitar can sometimes seem like a traumatic experience. There are so many guitars to choose from and the price range is enormous. One of the first steps in your decision making process will be whether to buy an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. This decision should be based on the type of music you like and that you will hope to play.
If you like your heavier rock'n'roll music or particularly like lead guitar then your choice will likely be to buy an electric guitar. And don't worry. There is no rule that says beginners can't start with an electric guitar. Just remember to listen to how it sounds on the type of amp you will buy.
Your other choice is obviously to buy an acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars remain very popular due to their natural sound and portability. Acoustics are great for that finger picking technique you will likely want to try at some stage.
Guitars are like most consumer products in that how much you pay will depend on quality, brand and sometimes history. Some of the classic rock guitars from the sixties may only be average in terms of technical quality but they have such a history that you will pay a premium for them. There are some wonderful quality workmanship examples available in todays guitars that are very appealing but you are also able to buy some perfectly suitable models for a comparatively inexpensive price.
As with everything in life your choice will depend on your budget and how important you feel about the choice. For the beginner guitarist, it is like buying a watch. One person may buy an expensive watch because it is a thing of beauty and impresses people. The next person buys a cheap watch because it tells the time. The same applies to guitars in your choice of a beautiful quality instrument or just one that sounds ok and lets you play.
When you buy a good brand you typically have less to worry about in terms of the guitar quality. If on the other hand you are buying a guitar at a bargain basement price then you need to conduct your own investigation into its quality. You will need to look at the guitar's tone, it's playing action and last buy not least whether it suits you. There are small pink acoustic guitars and there are big heavy razor-blade shaped electric guitars and everything inbetween. Pick the one that suits you.
The guitar tone is something you alone can decide whether you like. It is personal taste that some people like a more full well-rounded sound while others prefer a more hard edge attacking sound. If you're not comfortable playing it yourself when you go to buy the guitar, get someone else to play some different songs and listen carefully to the tone.
The balance and playability of the guitar is important because of the hours you will spend playing it. Balance and weight are factors and it is a good idea to make sure you are comfortable playing in both a standing up and seated position. The weight and shape of the guitar will influence how it feels for you. Also check the action of the guitar. In other words how hard is it to press the strings down to the fretboard as you move up to the higher frets. The action can be altered but you would hopefully buy a guitar that felt good out of the box. Many people spend hours looking down the neck of the guitar to ensure it is straight but the truth is that it should have a slight forward bend, known as neck relief. This ensures that the strings don't buzz when pressed.
Overall, you have two main choices when buying your guitar. You can buy a more expensive guitar and you know that you are getting a good product. If you are buying a cheap guitar, you probably need to take someone with you with at least intermediate level skills so they can report on its playability and sound. As always make up your own mind. Don't let the salesman make it up for you.
If you like your heavier rock'n'roll music or particularly like lead guitar then your choice will likely be to buy an electric guitar. And don't worry. There is no rule that says beginners can't start with an electric guitar. Just remember to listen to how it sounds on the type of amp you will buy.
Your other choice is obviously to buy an acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars remain very popular due to their natural sound and portability. Acoustics are great for that finger picking technique you will likely want to try at some stage.
Guitars are like most consumer products in that how much you pay will depend on quality, brand and sometimes history. Some of the classic rock guitars from the sixties may only be average in terms of technical quality but they have such a history that you will pay a premium for them. There are some wonderful quality workmanship examples available in todays guitars that are very appealing but you are also able to buy some perfectly suitable models for a comparatively inexpensive price.
As with everything in life your choice will depend on your budget and how important you feel about the choice. For the beginner guitarist, it is like buying a watch. One person may buy an expensive watch because it is a thing of beauty and impresses people. The next person buys a cheap watch because it tells the time. The same applies to guitars in your choice of a beautiful quality instrument or just one that sounds ok and lets you play.
When you buy a good brand you typically have less to worry about in terms of the guitar quality. If on the other hand you are buying a guitar at a bargain basement price then you need to conduct your own investigation into its quality. You will need to look at the guitar's tone, it's playing action and last buy not least whether it suits you. There are small pink acoustic guitars and there are big heavy razor-blade shaped electric guitars and everything inbetween. Pick the one that suits you.
The guitar tone is something you alone can decide whether you like. It is personal taste that some people like a more full well-rounded sound while others prefer a more hard edge attacking sound. If you're not comfortable playing it yourself when you go to buy the guitar, get someone else to play some different songs and listen carefully to the tone.
The balance and playability of the guitar is important because of the hours you will spend playing it. Balance and weight are factors and it is a good idea to make sure you are comfortable playing in both a standing up and seated position. The weight and shape of the guitar will influence how it feels for you. Also check the action of the guitar. In other words how hard is it to press the strings down to the fretboard as you move up to the higher frets. The action can be altered but you would hopefully buy a guitar that felt good out of the box. Many people spend hours looking down the neck of the guitar to ensure it is straight but the truth is that it should have a slight forward bend, known as neck relief. This ensures that the strings don't buzz when pressed.
Overall, you have two main choices when buying your guitar. You can buy a more expensive guitar and you know that you are getting a good product. If you are buying a cheap guitar, you probably need to take someone with you with at least intermediate level skills so they can report on its playability and sound. As always make up your own mind. Don't let the salesman make it up for you.
About the Author:
About the writer: Terrence Booth is another keen guitar addict interested in all things referring to buying guitars. He has accumulated all the resources needed to buy guitar into the one place.
